In this New York Times bestseller an award-winning journalist uses ten maps of crucial regions
to explain the geo-political strategies of the world powers—“fans of geography history and
politics (and maps) will be enthralled” ( Fort Worth Star-Telegram ). Maps have a mysterious
hold over us. Whether ancient crumbling parchments or generated by Google maps tell us things
we want to know not only about our current location or where we are going but about the world
in general. And yet when it comes to geo-politics much of what we are told is generated by
analysts and other experts who have neglected to refer to a map of the place in question. All
leaders of nations are constrained by geography. In “one of the best books about geopolitics” (
The Evening Standard ) now updated to include 2016 geopolitical developments journalist Tim
Marshall examines Russia China the US Latin America the Middle East Africa Europe Japan
Korea and Greenland and the Arctic—their weather seas mountains rivers deserts and
borders—to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: how the physical
characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions
made by their leaders. Offering “a fresh way of looking at maps” ( The New York Times Book
Review ) Marshall explains the complex geo-political strategies that shape the globe. Why is
Putin so obsessed with Crimea? Why was the US destined to become a global superpower? Why does
China’s power base continue to expand? Why is Tibet destined to lose its autonomy? Why will
Europe never be united? The answers are geographical. “In an ever more complex chaotic and
interlinked world Prisoners of Geography is a concise and useful primer on geopolitics” (
Newsweek ) and a critical guide to one of the major determining factors in world affairs.
